Exploring ProRAW: How to Shoot and Edit RAW Photos on iOS

Jeff Picoult

By Jeff Picoult

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In the world of mobile photography, the iPhone continues to set standards with every new release. Apple’s ProRAW format, introduced with iPhone 12 Pro and subsequent models, offers a game-changer for users who want more control over their photos. But what exactly is ProRAW, and how can you use it to shoot and edit RAW photos directly on your iPhone? Let’s dive into the details and explore the potential of ProRAW for iOS photography.

Image Source: ISO1200

What is ProRAW?

ProRAW is a file format developed by Apple that combines the versatility of traditional RAW files with the computational photography of iOS. Unlike JPEG or HEIF formats, RAW files contain unprocessed image data straight from the camera sensor. This gives photographers more flexibility in post-processing, allowing them to adjust everything from exposure to white balance with much more latitude.

However, RAW photos can be large and unwieldy, and they typically lack the sophisticated image enhancements that smartphone cameras apply automatically to standard images. ProRAW is Apple’s solution to this, merging the raw data with the benefits of the iPhone’s advanced computational photography—like Deep Fusion and Smart HDR. Essentially, it gives you the best of both worlds: the ability to tweak your photo in post-production while still taking advantage of the camera’s automatic enhancements.

Shooting in ProRAW

Shooting in ProRAW is surprisingly simple, though it requires a bit of setup if you haven’t used the format before. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Enable ProRAW: First, navigate to Settings > Camera > Formats and turn on Apple ProRAW. Once enabled, you’ll see a “RAW” toggle in the Camera app, allowing you to choose between capturing ProRAW and standard photos.
  2. Use the Right Moment: ProRAW isn’t necessary for every photo. If you’re snapping a quick selfie or shooting in perfect lighting, the default iPhone camera settings are often sufficient. However, in challenging lighting conditions—like low light or scenes with high dynamic range—ProRAW can be incredibly helpful.
  3. Understanding File Sizes: ProRAW files are significantly larger than standard JPEGs. A single ProRAW photo can be up to 25MB or more, depending on the scene. This might quickly fill up your storage, so be mindful when using this feature.
  4. Adjust Exposure: When shooting in ProRAW, you’ll have control over exposure settings that aren’t available in regular photo modes. ProRAW captures more dynamic range, meaning you can recover more detail in shadows and highlights during editing.

Editing RAW Photos on iOS

Once you’ve captured a photo in ProRAW, it’s time to edit and publish. And here’s where things get really interesting. Editing a ProRAW photo can bring out the fine details that aren’t immediately apparent when you first take the picture. When publishing a photo from your iPhone, there are also risks of being tracked or hacked. It’s smarter to secure your iOS device from such cyber risks. This includes comprehensive protection with 2FA, VPN, data encryption, etc. But for now, let’s get back to editing photos in ProRAW format.

Native Editing Tools in iOS

iOS comes with a robust set of photo editing tools that are more than sufficient for most users. After capturing a ProRAW photo, you can go to the Photos app, select the image, and start editing.

  • Adjust Exposure: With ProRAW, you can push exposure sliders farther without degrading image quality. For example, if your shot is underexposed, drag the exposure up to brighten the image while maintaining a natural look.
  • Fine-tune White Balance: RAW photos don’t have a fixed white balance, meaning you can adjust the temperature and tint of your image after it’s taken. This is particularly useful in tricky lighting situations like mixed artificial and natural light sources.
  • Contrast and Highlights: One of the advantages of ProRAW is that it retains more detail in both the highlights and shadows. Lowering highlights and increasing shadow detail can make your image pop.

Third-Party Apps for Editing

For more advanced editing, consider using third-party apps like Adobe Lightroom or Affinity Photo, both of which support ProRAW. There are also web services for simple editing. But when using them, it is worth activating Chrome VPN to avoid potential risks of identity disclosure. These apps offer a broader range of tools than iOS’s native editors.

  • Adobe Lightroom: A favorite among professionals, Lightroom allows for more advanced RAW photo editing. The app provides finer control over tonal adjustments, color grading, and lens corrections. And because ProRAW retains so much data, you can make aggressive edits without losing detail or introducing noise.
  • Darkroom: Another great app for iOS, Darkroom offers an intuitive editing experience and supports ProRAW. It’s designed for users who want quick but high-quality edits without diving into overly complex features.
Image Source: Phonesaaz

The Benefits of ProRAW

ProRAW offers several significant benefits for iPhone users who are serious about mobile photography. Some of these advantages include:

  • More Flexibility in Post: ProRAW files give you more room to correct exposure, white balance, and color balance after the fact. Regular images, particularly JPEGs, don’t offer nearly as much flexibility.
  • Higher Image Quality: By combining RAW data with iOS’s computational photography, ProRAW photos can achieve higher image quality, especially in tricky lighting situations. A study by the photography app Halide showed that ProRAW photos maintain up to 30% more detail in highlights compared to standard RAW files.
  • Better Detail Retention: ProRAW retains significantly more detail, especially in darker areas of the image, compared to compressed formats like JPEG or HEIF.

A Few Limitations

While ProRAW is a powerful tool, it’s not without its drawbacks. The most obvious limitation is file size. As mentioned earlier, ProRAW photos are much larger than standard photos, which can quickly fill up your phone’s storage, especially if you are taking hundreds of photos.

Moreover, ProRAW photos require more time and effort in post-processing. Not every user will want to spend several minutes editing each shot, especially when Apple’s default JPEG processing is already so advanced.

Conclusion

ProRAW is a significant advancement for iPhone photography, offering the best of both computational photography and RAW image control. It gives photographers more flexibility when it comes to editing while still retaining Apple’s post-processing features like Smart HDR and Deep Fusion. By understanding when and how to use ProRAW, and mastering the editing tools available on iOS or in third-party apps, you can take your iPhone photography to the next level.


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Jeff Picoult

Jeff Picoult

Photographer

Jeff Picoult is a seasoned photographer, who blends artistry and innovation. With a humble approach, he captures moments resonating with depth and emotion, from nature's beauty to the energy of sports.

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